Publication Date:
2022-10-17
Description:
Tree stands in the boreal treeline ecotone are, in addition to climate change, impacted by disturbances
such as fire, water-related disturbances and logging. We aim to understand how these
disturbances affect growth, age structure, and spatial patterns of larch stands in the north-eastern
Siberian treeline ecotone (lower Kolyma River region), an insufficiently researched region. Stand
structure of Larix cajanderi Mayr was studied at seven sites impacted by disturbances. Maximum
tree age ranged from 44 to 300 years. Young to medium-aged stands had, independent of disturbance
type, the highest stand densities with over 4000 larch trees per ha. These sites also had
the highest growth rates for tree height and stem diameter. Overall lowest stand densities were
found in a polygonal field at the northern end of the study area, with larches growing in distinct
“tree islands”. At all sites, saplings are significantly clustered. Differences in fire severity led to
contrasting stand structures with respect to tree, recruit, and overall stand densities. While a low
severity fire resulted in low-density stands with high proportions of small and young larches,
high severity fires resulted in high-density stands with high proportions of big trees. At waterdisturbed
sites, stand structure varied between waterlogged and drained sites and latitude. These
mixed effects of climate and disturbance make it difficult to predict future stand characteristics
and the treeline position.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Article
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isiRev
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